Hinged plate movable seat construction



Malmh 30, 1954 c. F. CARAMELLI 2,673,592

HINGED PLATE MOVABLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l 46 i l INVENTOR CARL F. CARAMELLI WM" ym ATTORNEYS March 30, 1954 c. F. CARAMELLI 2,673,592

HINGED PLATE MOVABLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FTQ. 5. l2 25 so 57 7e 4527 [H I h" I I 7o 7| 22m, I 22 Y FIG 4 8 FG, 5

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INVENY'OR CARL F, CRMELLI WW1 V2M ATTORNEYS MarCh 30, 1954 c. F. cARAMELLl HTNGED PLATE MOT/ABLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 25, 1949 FIG. 9

INVENTOR CARL F. CARM/HELL! ATTORNEYS March 30, 1954 C, F, CARAMELLl 2,673,592

HINGED PLATE MOVABLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. l2.

//f if W A TTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1954 I HINGED PLATE MOVABLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Carl F. Caramelli, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Peter G. Caramelli, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,386

6 Claims. l This invention has to do with counterstools and particularly with a seat-mounting construction therefor which renders the seat slidably adjustable.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel eounterstool seat-mounting construction adapted to be incorporated in counterstools in present use for the purpose of providing a slidably adjustable seat thereon. In this connection it is an object to provide a mounting unit which can be interposed between the seat proper and the mounting bracket or tripod to make the seats slidably adjustable in a horizontal plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a seat-mounting construction of the type indicated, a pair of slidably mounted plates, one of which is adapted to be attached to the conventional seat-mounting bracket and the other of which is adapted to be hingedly attached to the seat proper, together with novel braking or locking means actuatable by the weight of a person on the seat for preventing sliding movement of the parts.

It is also an object to provide means for automatically releasing the seat when weight is removed therefrom and means for returning the seat to a normal or central position intermediate the limits of its slidable movement.

Another object is to provide a limiting means to prevent undue strain and wear being imposed upon the hingedly mounted parts and the locking or braking elements of the device.

Still another object is to provide a device which can be readily fabricated and which is easy to install.

A further object is to provide a mounting means of the type indicated Which is relatively compact and which adds very little to the height of a seat on which it is installed. Y

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illusl trative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in section of a mounting construction embodying the invention; v

Fig. 2 is an inverted sectional plan view as in the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the locking plug construction; p

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5"-5 ofFig.2: j y

Fig. 6 is a section on Vline 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a section on line 1`I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a device embodying another form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is an inverted sectional plan view on line I0-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section on line I I-I I of Fig. 9;

Fig. l2 is a section on line I2I 2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3-I3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of the seat plate and seat showing another type of mounting; and

Fig. 15 is a section on line I5-I5 of Fig. 14.

More particularly describing the invention, referring particularly to Figs. 1-8, numeral II generally indicates the post or column of a counterstool which has a seat I2 supported by the column on a rotatable mounting pin I4 received therein and having a conventional spider or mounting bracket I5 at its upper end. The mounting pin is received in a sleeve I6 which in turn is supported by a bushing Il and retaining screws I8 within the column I I. The lower end of the mounting pin is preferably formed at an angle as at I9 to cooperate with a cam element 20 having a corresponding face, the element 2t being rigidly mounted as by a pin 2| With this 1 construction the device tends to be self-centering when rotated. The amount of rotation of the pin I4 and the elements mounted thereon is preferably limited by abutments 22 formed on bushing I1 which is contacted by the stop ilange 23 depending from the mounting spider I5.

Interposed between the mounting bracket I5 and the seat I2 are a seat plate 25 and a base plate 26. The latter is attached directly to the element I5 as by means of bolts 2l extending through the arms 28 of element I5 and the plate itself. The base plate is provided with marginal depending flanges 30 upon which are mounted wheels 3I upon suitable stud shafts 32. These wheels ride in tracks formed in the seat plate as will presently appear.

The seat plate is preferably hingedly attached to the seat in a manner to provide a clearance or space between the upper surface of the plate and the lower surface of the seat proper. The seat plate 25, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, "I, and 8, is provided with a pair of hinges 35. inasmuch as these structures are the same, only one will be described Each vof the hinged structures includes a post-bracketv having abase 3l' attached to the seat element I2 by screws 38. This post bracket extends through an opening 40 in the seat plate 25 and is hingedly connected to a mounting bracket 4| by means of a pin 42 which extends through a post bracket and through a pair of depending ears 43 on the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is secured to the seat plate on the under side by means of screws 44, or it may be welded in place.

It will be apparent that with the construction outlined the seat I2 and seat plate 25 are hingedly connected at what will be termed the front or forward ends of the two members.

The entire seat and its seat plate are slidably movable with respect to the base plate 26, the seat plate being provided with inturned flanges 4S at its lateral margins to provide tracks for receiving the wheels or rollers 3| previously described as being on the base plate.

In order to provide for locking the plates against relative movement when a weight is imposed on the seat, such as by a person sitting on it, I provide a locking or braking pad 50 of rubber or ilexible material centrally mounted above the base plate. I have found that rubber of approximately 80 Shore hardness is satisfactory. This pad is contained within a cup 5| which is loosely secured to the mounting pin I4 by a screw 52. The pad 50 extends through a slot 54 which extends longitudinally of the seat plate and projects thereabove to a point where only slight clearance is left between the pad and the bottom of the seat. I may provide a metal bearing strip 55 on the under surface of te seat in the area traversed by the locking pad.

Normally, the seat is maintained above the locking pad by means of a spring 51 mounted on the upper surface of the seat plate by screws 58 at the end of the plate opposite the hinges 35. It will be apparent that when a weight is imposed upon the seat suicient to overcome the spring that the seat will move downwardly until it contacts the locking pad 50 which will then serve to prevent slidable movement of the seat relative to the base plate.

I prefer to provide a means for limiting downward movement of the seat relative to the seat plate for the purpose of preventing undue pressure being imposed upon the locking pad and of preventing undue strain being placed upon the hinges 35 and the seat plate. Such means may consist of a pair of pressure limiting pads 60 which are of less height than the central locking pad 50. These pads may consist of a base 6| and a resilient or rubber-like upper portion 62 with the base secured to the seat plate by screws 63.

Preferably, also, means are provided for limiting upward movement of the seat relative to the seat plate and this may consist of one or more screws 66 mounted in the seat and positioned at the rear edge of the seat plate. The screw is provided with a washer 61 andv a rubber bumper 68 which extend underthe edge of the seat plate.

I provide a pair of springs mounted to operate in opposite directions for the purpose of returning the seat to a normal or central position within the range of its sliding movement. These springs, indicated by 10 and 1|, are preferably mounted side by side to prevent undue torsion being exerted upon the plates. Spring 10 is secured at 12 to the base plate and at 13 to an ear on a fender 14 secured to the seat as by screws 15. The other spring is secured at 16 to the plate 26 and at its other end at 11 to a fender 18 at the forward end of the seat.

For the purpose-.of limiting the relative sliding movement between. the plates, I. provide a pair of bumpers, separately indicated at and 8|, on the base plate which are in longitudinal alignment with a pair of depending flanges 82 and 83 on the seat plate and against which they strike, respectively, to lirnit relative sliding movement of the plates.

In the operation of the form of invention described above, it will be apparent that, normally the seat may be slid forward or backward against the action of the springs 10 and 1| when there is no weight imposed upon it. However, when weight is imposed upon the seat, the same moves downwardly until the locking pad 50 is engaged by the seat, thereby preventing further sliding movement of the seat. The pressure limiter pads 62 serve to protect the parts against strain resulting from unduly heavy weights being imposed upon the seat.

In Figs. 9-14, I show a seat-mounting construction embodying another form of the invention. Referring to these gures, reference numeral |00 generally indicates a counter-stool seat which is supported by the construction to be described upon a post or column |0|. Interposed between the seat and the column are a seat plate |02 and a base plate |03. The base plate |03 is secured to a mounting plate |04 by means of screws |06. The plate |04 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper end of a mounting pin |01 which extends into the standard |0| being received for slidable and rotative movement in a bushing |08. The bushing is releasably mounted in an adapter sleeve |09, the parts being secured in the column |0| by set screws l l0. A cam member ||2 is secured in the lower end of the bushing |08 as by a pin ||3. The lower end of the mounting pin and upper end of the cam member are provided with corresponding angularly disposed surfaces ||4' for the purpose of rotatively returning the seat to the position in which it is shown. The upper end of the adapter |09 is provided with two radially extending lugs ||6 which act as stops for a depending pin ||1 on plate |04 to limit pivotal movement of the seat.

The base plate |03 is provided with upwardly extending marginal flanges |20, in each of which are mounted pins |2| supporting rollers |22. The rollers are received within a track |24 formed by a depending and inwardly turned ange |25 at the margins of the seat plate.

The seat plate is hingedly secured to the seat by hinges |28. 'Ilhese hinges comprise a pair of brackets |30 secured to the seat by screws |3|. Pivotally mounted on the brackets |30 are forwardly extending links |32, the parts being connected by bolts |33. The links |32 are pivotally secured to the forward ends of the anges of the seat plate by pins |35.

The seat plate is floatingly secured at its rearward end to the seat at |31 and |38. At each of these points a leaf spring |4| is mounted, as by rivets |42, to the upper surface of the seat plate and curves upwardly to bear against a bearing plate |43 secured to the seat by screws |44. It will be obvious that with this construction the rearward portion of the seat is raised relative to the seat plate. A third spring |4| is employed forward and centrally of the seat.

For the purpose of preventing relative sliding or longitudinal movement between the base and seat plates, a locking means is provided which includes a locking bar |46 secured to theA seat by a pair of screws |41. The bar is spaced from the seat and located. below the underv surface of the seat plate by spacer sleeves |48 on the screws and preferably a rubber washer or silencer |49 is provided between the 'bar and the seat plate. A relatively large opening |50 is provided in the seat in the region of each of the screws |41.

The upper surface of the base plate is provided with a recess |52 to receive a rubber or resilient locking pad |53 which projects above the seat plate to a point short of the under surface of the locking bar as shown in Fig. 9. It will be apparent that when weight is imposed upon the seat, the seat descends relative to the seat plate until the locking bar contacts the upper surface of the locking pad which then serves as a brake to prevent sliding movement of the parts.

The seat plate and base plate are normally held in the position shown by means of springs |55 and |53. Spring |55 is secured at |51 to the base plate and at |58 to the seat plate. The other spring is secured at |50 to the base plate and |6| to the seat plate.

In some instances it may be desirable to directly hingedly mount the seat plate on the seat in which case the links |32 may be eliminated as shown in Figs 14 and 15 wherein I fragmentarily show a seat plate |65 hingedly secured 'by bolt |06 to a mounting bracket |31 attached to the seat |68 by screws |69. It is also obvious that by using links |32 of different lengths I can accommodate the structures to seats of various lengths.

In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 9-14, it will be apparent that with no Weight imposed on the seat, the same may be moved longitudinally to any desired position. When weight is imposed on the seat, as by a person sitting on the seat, the seat descends, causing the locking bar to engage the locking pad which serves as a brake to resist further movement of the plates relative to each other. The springs serve to center or return the seat to its original position when the weight is removed from the seat.

Although the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof as indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a movable seat mounting constructed and arranged to be interposed between a support and a seat, a base plate carried by said support, a seat plate mounted on said base plate for limited linear movement thereon, hinge means connecting said seat plate and said seat for movement of the seat relative to said plate, and brake means interposed between said seat and said support operable under the inlluence of a weight imposed upon said seat to prevent relative movement of said plates, said brake means including a resilient pad engageable by a portion of said seat upon a predetermined amount of movement of said seat toward said support.

2. In a movable seat mounting constructed and arranged to be interposed between a support and a seat, a base plate carried by said support, a seat plate mounted on said base plate for limited linear movement thereon, hinge means connecting said seat plate 'and said seat between the center of the seat plate and one end thereof, spring means interposed between said seat plate and said seat yieldably urging the seat plate and seat apart, and brake means interposed between said Seat and said base plate operable upon downward movement of said seat, said brake means including a resilient pad engageable by a. portion of said seat.

3. In a movable seat mounting constructed and arranged to be interposed between a support and a seat, a base plate carried by said support, a seat plate mounted on said base plate for limited linear movement thereon, hinge means connecting said seat plate and said seat for movement of the seat relative to said plate, a resilient brake pad interposed between said seat and said support and engageable by said seat upon downward movement thereof to prevent relative movement of said plates, and limiting means between said seat and said seat plate operable after said seat has engaged said brake pad for limiting downward movement of said seat.

4. In a movable seat mounting constructed and arranged to be interposed between a column or support and a seat, a base construction including a mounting pin received in said support and a base plate carried on the pin, a seat plate carried by said base plate for limited linear movement thereon, means mounting said seat on said seat plate for movement toward and away from the plate, a resilient brake pad carried by said pin and projecting above said plates in position to be engaged by said seat, said seat plate having a longitudinal slot receiving said pad, and spring means urging said seat away from said seat plate.

5. A mounting as deiined in claim 4 in which limiting means are provided for limiting movement of said seat toward said seat plate.

6. In a movable seat mounting constructed and arranged to be interposed between a support and a seat, a base plate carried by said support, a seat plate mounted on said base plate for limited linear movement thereon, hinge means connecting said seat plate and said seat, said hinge means including a pair of hinges, said hinges being pivotally mounted at one end on an end of said seat plate and being pivotally secured at other ends to said seat in a region between the end of said seat plate and the center thereof, spring means interposed between said seat plate and said seat yieldably urging the seat plate and seat apart, and brake means interposed between said seat and said support operable under the influence of a weight imposed upon said seat to prevent relative movement of said plates.

CARL F. CARAMELLI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 740,071 Allen Sept. 29, 1903 804,58 Hastings Nov. 15, 1905 1,237,956 Pue Aug. 21, 1917 1,802,606 Krause Apr. 28, 1931 2,353,497 Pecker July 11, 1944 2,409,114 Elleman Oct. 8, 1946 

